COVID-19, Telehealth, and Licensing

ADVOCACY WORKS

Kansas Chapter has been hard at work to ensure pandemic-related supports for social workers and our clients. We have worked hard to be your voice at the table regarding the following licensing regulatory changes.

Proposed Regulatory Licensing Changes

Join NASW-KS and receive timely emails on the progress of these regulatory changes.

1) Clinical Supervision Through Electronic Options

Good News:

Active Discussion in the process by BSRB regarding allowing supervision conducted through face-to-face either in person or, if confidentiality is technologically protected, by video conferencing and in emergent situations with telephonic means.

2) Telephonic Services
Kansas Chapter has heard from many social workers impacted barriers related to digital access and serve clients without videoconferencing technology. KS Chapter Board of Directors presented testimony at the last two BSRB Board meetings to allow telephonic (audio) services.

Good News:
BSRB is currently discussing regulatory changes to allow telephonic service during student practicums and within the LSCSW training plan. Licensing Boards across the nation and insurance companies including Medicare/Medicaid have allowed flexibility for electronic means including telephonic services during this pandemic.

3) Current barriers for graduate-level social work students
Kansas requires MSW students to complete 350 in-person client hours to obtain a clinical level social work license (Article 63 – Social Workers, 65-6306). Many graduate students are having difficulty completing their required 350 in-person hours due to COVID-19. Kansas Chapter has been working with BSRB and the Governor's office regarding this regulatory barrier as our nation and state faces a mental health crisis. Our social work graduates are so critical to meeting those needs. We have been advocating to remove the 350 in-person hour requirement and to allow televideo and telephonic services to count as direct client contact during the MSW student practicum.

Good News:
BSRB is currently discussing moving forward with changes to include services through electronic methods.

Successful COVID-19 Related Advocacy Efforts

Teletherapy Counting Toward the 1,500 hours of Direct Clinical Contact for LSCSW

KS Chapter has been a strong voice advocating that teletherapy should count toward the required 1,500 hours of direct client contact. Upon reviewing the Kansas Telemedicine Act, BSRB did issue guidance that client contact via tele-video electronic devices may be used toward the accrual of the 1,500-hour requirement.

YOUR VOICE MATTERS

Having a social work association in Kansas matters!

#BeTheChange

Annual Legislative Education Advocacy Day

Join us – this year for our virtual advocacy day - February 17th, 2021– 10 am to 12 pm. Registration will be posted on Kansas Chapter Facebook in January.

NASW-KS recognizes and stresses the importance of legislative advocacy by professional social workers through holding an annual advocacy skills training where over 300 students/social workers come together at Washburn University in February of each year. Participants learn advocacy skills in the morning in workshops and then have first-hand practice developing these skills by meeting with their legislators at the State Capitol. The actions of the Kansas legislature affect the practice of social work and the client’s social workers serve. Policy impacts practice and practitioners can affect policy.

#StandWithSocialWork by joining in this event. Our NASW-KS Membership provides social workers with regular advocacy and policy updates from both the National office and the NASW-KS state chapter office.

With your help, we’ll continue to be influencers at the Statehouse, working to meet the needs of Kansas social workers in human services, mental health, and equitable financing of state services.

BSRB Fees Reduced! Power in Association!

Over the years NASW-KS Chapter of Social Workers has advocated lowering fees for licensure as Kansas social workers pay almost twice as much as neighboring states. The good news…

-YOUR VOICE MATTERS-

Having a social work association in Kansas matters-regulations are now finalized and application and renewal fees have been reduced by $50 effective March 8, 2019.

More information on the BSRB social work license fees.

Kansas Passes Licensure Reciprocity for Social Workers

Senate Bill 15 was signed into law by Governor Kelly. The Kansas House and Senate passed legislation that was sent to Governor Kelly to provide licensure reciprocity for social workers who work across state lines or move to Kansas.

The NASW Kansas Chapter championed the introduction and passage of this legislation.

NASW-KS proposed an amendment to place post-graduate supervision hours for clinical supervision in line with states across the country. 3000 supervised practice hours and 100 supervision hours were also approved in the Senate and House. Governor Kely then signed the bill into law.

The legislative work and having a social worker at the table is only possible due to Kansas social workers becoming NASW members.

More in the News:

“Need More Social Workers In Kansas? Advocates And Providers Say Loosen Standards” by Nomin Ujiyediin, KCUR

“Kansas lawmakers eye bill to address social worker shortage” by Staff, KSNT

NASW- KS Chapter SUCCESSFULLY Championed Reducing Barriers to Become Clinically Trained

Senate Bill Passed into Law

NASW—KS Chapter championed amendments to Senate Bill 15 which changed the hours of supervised clinical experience from 4000 total hours to 3000 total hours and the required supervision hours from 150 hours to 100 hours for new (non-reciprocity) LSCSW applications only.

This change will ensure that Kansas licensing requirements are in lined with neighboring states and states across the union.

More information from BSRB